Proposed tower atop old Joske's is raising decibel level of debate

Updated 3:13 pm, Friday, April 5, 2013

This is an artist's rendering of what the proposed tower could look like atop the Joske's building at Alamo and Commerce.

This is an artist's rendering of what the proposed tower could look like atop the Joske's building at Alamo and Commerce.

Photo: S.A. Partnership Architects

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Photo: Mike Fisher

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Proposed tower atop old Joske's is raising decibel level of debate

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A Dallas-based developer's proposal to stack a 23-story hotel and timeshare tower on top of the old Joske's building downtown has reignited a public debate over how the city should balance historic sites and modern construction.

The addition of a high-rise to the nearly 125-year-old former department store at Alamo and Commerce streets has drawn criticism from members of the city's Historic Design and Review Commission, who have voiced concern over the tower's potential impact on the neighboring Alamo Plaza.

Local history buffs have blasted what they see as the encroachment of commercial interests on hallowed ground.

One Castle Hills resident even asked state Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, in an email to urge state officials to exercise its power of eminent domain if the project moves forward.

While some critics have said the tower would “overpower” Alamo Plaza, Beucler pointed to the Emily Morgan Hotel.

Originally built as the Medical Arts Building in the 1920s, the 13-story building sits directly north of the Alamo.

“There was a time, I'm sure, when everybody thought it was overpowering as well,” Beucler said. “It's called progress.

“We accept everyone's opinion. But once again, San Antonio's trying to become a progressive city and continue to grow.”

Details of the project became public last week after an agenda for an HDRC meeting on Wednesday included an item for conceptual approval of the tower.

Shortly after the agenda packet was posted online Friday, Beucler asked city staff to pull the item to allow him more time to satisfy schematic and design changes that the HDRC's design and review committee had requested previously.

He will meet with the committee next week to discuss additional revisions.

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After their meeting Wednesday, HDRC members deferred questions to Chairman Tim Cone, who said he would not discuss the project publicly until the full commission considered it at their next meeting April 17.

But notes from two prior committee meetings show Commissioner Michael Guarino, who “was never a supporter of the initial proposal,” worried about the scale of the tower in regards to the historic context of Alamo Plaza.

Commissioner Michael Connor suggested the high-rise would “overwhelm” the space, according to the notes.

“It's more what I consider a glass and metal monster,” said Lunderman, who participates in SALHA's monthly historical re-enactments at Alamo Plaza. “It takes away from the historic value. We don't need any more modern structures. There's too much renovation (and) too much loss of history. Why not add a museum there?”

Calling the tower unnecessary, Lunderman also said it reflected the expansion of retailers on the plaza, a development he called “insulting and derogatory” to the area's historical significance.

However, Beucler said the project could jump-start commercial redevelopment throughout the downtown area.

He said the traffic generated by the tower would provide the “critical mass” to sustain new retailers that Ashkenazy hopes to lure to the property, which has remained empty since Dillard's vacated the building in 2008.

“They've got one chance to do this right,” Beucler said. “If they pass on (the tower), there will never be anything there for the next 50 to 100 years.”

San Antonio native Ann Allega agreed.

A psychotherapist, she currently owns a home at the renovated Judson Candy Factory Lofts in South Town and said she appreciates when developers update historic buildings for modern use.

“Any refurbishment at Joske's, I'm 100 percent all for it,” Allega said. “Change has to occur. It would be great to have something new and modern.

“There will always be a lot of people who don't want something massively different,” she added, “but at the same time, we can't let people keep it empty and useless forever.”